title: Understanding the laminated layer of larval Echinococcus II: immunology.
abstract: The laminated layer (LL) is the massive carbohydrate-rich structure that protects Echinococcus larvae, which cause cystic echinococcosis (hydatid disease) and alveolar echinococcosis. Increased understanding of the biochemistry of the LL is allowing a more informed analysis of its immunology. The LL not only protects the parasite against host attack but also shapes the overall immune response against it. Because of its dense glycosylation, it probably contains few T-cell epitopes, being important instead in T-cell independent antibody responses. Crucially, it is decoded in non-inflammatory fashion by innate immunity, surely contributing to the strong immune-regulation observed in Echinococcus infections. Defining the active LL molecular motifs and corresponding host innate receptors is a feasible and promising goal in the field of helminth-derived immune-regulatory molecules.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Inmunología. Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Química/IQB, Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de la República, Montevideo CP 11600, Uruguay. adiaz@fq.edu.uy
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casaravilla
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D006031:Glycosylation; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D009077:Mucins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D009077:Mucins